Valve



NOV- 13, 1934 G. DfBRADsHAw 1,980,374

VALVE Filed May 2, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f; 7J i l 42 l l 55 5 2g y ,I 8 /h 1 I6 2z l l l 26 J 7 $2 j j I 55 7* 52 5f 7 53 2f zy .s

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Patented Nov. 13, 1934 PATENT oFFlcE VALVE Grant D. Bradshaw, Beaver, Pa., assignor to Bradshaw & Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application May z, 19in, serial No. 608,624

8 Claims.

This invention relates to valves, and it has for its object providingautomatic means for operating large valves so as to close the valve suitably and at proper times and without injury to the l valve or other elements. The invention is particularly applicable to large check valves used in pipes which are transmitting liquids by means of centrifugal pumps. Insuch a case, it often happens that, if the pump is stopped, the liquid will 10 reverse its direction of flow and may force the pump to vrun backward, often causing injury and also draining the liquid from the system.

The objection to the ordinary swinging check valve, when used for such a purpose, is that it l5 does not close until after the ow of water from the pump has actually reversed. When this occurs, the check swings shut with a heavy water hammer, which may cause serious injury. To prevent this, it is desirable to install a valve which will start to close before the ow in the line has reversed, and will be completely closed at about the point of reversal of ilow. Also, it is desirable to have the valve close very rapidly at first, and

then to close down more gradually until the finall 26 closing. If it should` happen that the pump is not properly primed when it is started, the valve should be maintained closed'until the pump is properly primed. Also, in case the suction of the pump is broken and the pump ceases to pump 30 water even though it rotates at full speed, the

valve should then be closed until the pumpis operating properly.v These objects I accomplish by my invention:

Of the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is an elevation of a pump system in combination with automatic means for operating the check valve, which embody the principles of my invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of one of the operating valves of the system and the operating means therefor; Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the main valve of the system and a portion of the operating means therefor; and Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of another of the operating valves of the system.

Although my invention is applicable to various types of valves and for various purposes, Iand to the pumping of various liquids, yet, for simplicity, I have shown the system as applicable to a gate valve, and vwill describe it as applicable to the pumping of water in large pipes, such as is often the case in municipalities for supplying water for various purposes.

The water is pumped by means of any suitable type of pump, for example the centrifugal pump 5 5, from any source, through a pipe 6, and is dis,-

(Cl. 10S-40) charged where desired through a pipe '7. Mounted in this pipe is any suitable valve, such as the gate valve 8. In such a system, it often happens that, for some reason, the pump is shut down intentionally or inadvertently, and it becomes desirable to close the valve, and the means which I have provided accomplishes this automatically and can be arranged or adjusted to do so according to the particular requirements of the system, in order to produce the best results, or as may be desired by the operator for any particular purpose. i v

The automatic means which I provide comprises a valve control pump 10, which is operated in any suitable manner so as to start and stop substantially synchronously with the main pump 5. I prefer to have this controlling pump directly connected to the shaft 11 of the main pump 5; but it is to be understood that this is not a necessary part of my" invention. When so connected,

and the main pump is for any reason stopped,

the operation of the control pump will cease. This control pump is arranged to pump a liquid, prefs erably oil, from any suitable source, such as the so tank 12, through Aa pipe 13, and into a pipe 14.

'I'his pump is positive in its action, so that at.

constant speed the pressure of the oil in the pipe v14 will be maintained at all times substantially constant. However, to increase the magnitude of the pressure, I prefer to force the oil through an' orifice 19 mounted in the pipe 14, and the oil is then forced through pipes 15, 16 and 17, back into the tank 12. By this arrangement, the oil is continuously circulated through this system and, in order to prevent overheating of the oil,

it is preferably passed through the cooling coils 16 which are mounted in the pipe 6. The water in the pipe- 6 thus continually coolsthese coils and, hence, the contained oil. 95

With this oil circulating arrangement, a substantially continuous and uniform pressure is pro- 'vided inthe pipe 14. .The pressure thus produced maybe used to control the check valve. To accomplish this, a diaphragm casing 181s connected by m means of a pipe 20 with the pipe 14. As a consequence, the pressure in the pipe 14 will be at all times transmittedto the diaphragm 21 in the casing 18.l 'I'his diaphragm is used to control the flow of pressure fluid, preferably water, into a .cylinder 22 which is adapted to operate the gate 23 of the valve, by means of a pisto 24 mounted Ain the-cylinder and a stem25 connecting the f piston with the valve.

The diaphragm 21 is connected, by means of no 8 Sleflli 2Q, tQ a pair of pistons 27 mounted in a casing 28. When the system is put in operation, the oil pressure forces the diaphragm inwardly, carrying with it the pistons 27, so that water under pressure vis free to flow from the d-ischarge i pipe 7 into the pipe 30 through the chamber 31 and the pipe 32, into the chamber 33 of the cylinder v22, thus forcing the piston 24 and the gate 23 upwardly and holding the valve open. In this manner; the opening of the valve is at all times insured solong as the system is in proper operation.

If, however, the main pump is stopped, the control pump 10 will also stop, and the pressure in the pipe 14 will reduce. If properly arranged, the result will be that the pressure in the diaphragm chamber will reduce to such a point that the spring 35 will force the pistons 27 outwardly, closing communication between the -pipes 30 and 32 and opening communication between the pipes 30 and 36', so that the water pressure is operative through the pipe 36 in the upper end of the cylinder 22, and the piston 24, together with the gate 23, will be forced downwardly.

It will be understood that the discharge from the cylinder 22 is cared for in an ordinary'manner by means of the pistons Vin the casing 28. When the pistons are forced inwardly, the discharge in the upper end of the cylinder 22 is free to pass through the pipe 36 and the pipe 37 to any 4point desired, such as the sewer. 0n the other hand, when the pistons are in the outward positions, the discharge is free to pass through the pipe 32 and the pipe 38 to the pipe 37.

In this manner, it will be seen that, as soon as the main pump 5 begins to slow down, the con- -trol pump will be operated accordingly; and, by proper adjustments of the spring` 35, the pressure of the oil will reduce suillciently at the proper time to allow the pistons 27 to be moved outwardly, so as to close the valve before the direction of flow of the water is reversed. In i ordinary practice, it is desirable to close the valve before the main pump comes to rest, as the back pressure oi' the water is likely to reverse the flow while the pump is slowing down to rest.

1 However, it is desirable to vary the rate of closing of the valve according to conditions. With the 'apparatus hereinabove described, as soon as the water pressure was transferred above the piston 24, the valve would be quicklyforced entirely closed. 'I'his might be objectionable in 'many cases. The valve might be closed too soon 'and so quickly as to cause injury. Hence, I 55 prefer to provide means for controlling the rate of closing of the valve.- These means-comprise the valve 40 mounted in the pipe 36,-which is preferably an ordinary ro- 'y tating valve.- Fixed to this valve is an arm 41, which is operatively associated with a' stem42 connected to they piston 24. This connection may be provided for vby means of a pin 43 operating i in a slot 44 in thearm 41. In the normal operating position` of the piston, the arm 41 will be elevated, as indicated, and the valve `40 willbe wide open. But, as the piston 24 is forced downwardly by the stopping of the pumps, it will carry with it the arm 41 thus closing the valve 40. As a consequence, the flow oi' water to the upper that the movement of the valve will be retarded accordingly;`A and, if the elementsv are properly adjusted, the movement ,of the valve will be Very slow. just as it closes.

'i5 The port of the lordinarytype of rotating valve f orl to the pipe 6.

end of the piston may be suitably retarded so does not give the best control of the movement or the valve gate, as it is desirable to have lthe gate move very rapidly during the first twothirds of the stroke and, then, to slow down materially until the valve is finally closed. To accomplish this, I prefer to provide a valve port 45 for -the valve 40, somewhat as is shown in'Fig. 4.. With this form of port, the flow of water to the upper end of the cylinder 22,:is not'materially interfered with until the piston is substantially two-thirds of the way down. From that point on, the port of the valve 40 closes very rapidly and, thus, the gate oi' the valve 8 is moving very slowly just as it closes. 4The valve 40, how-f ever, is not entirely closed, as this would prevent the discharge of waterfrom the upper end ofthe cylinder 22 when the main pump is again put in operation.

When the pump 'is again started up, the pres-- sure in the oil lines will rise and the diaphragm 21 and the pistons 27 will be forced inwardly,v allowing the water pressure to pass into .they lower end of the cylinder 22, thus forcing, the' piston 24 upwardlyfand opening the valve. The opening of the mainA valve, however, in the-:be-V ginning is alsogradual, owingto the throttling of the water discharge from the upper end ofthe" cylinder, by means oi Athe valve 40. But, asth`e valve 40 opens, the movement of the valve gate 23 will be accelerated Auntilitis. entirely open.

If it should happen that the main pump isnot properly primedwhen it is started or should'become unprimed whenin operation, there will be I no suction in the inlet pipe 6 by the actionof the To prevent the oil system from the valve when the unprimed pump isoperating, I

prefer to provide a valve inthe exhaust pipe 13, of the'oil circulating system. .'I'hevalve stem 51 of this valvev is connected to a ,diaphragm 52 120 in the diaphragm casingy 53. A The diaphragm chamber of the casing 53l is connected, by means of a pipe 54, to the inlet sideA of ther-main pump A spring 55 tends lto force inwardly the stem 51 and thus tov close the valve 50. \125 In normal operation, the pressure'in theinlet-k pipe 6 is reduced by suction materially below? the atmospheric pressure. Ihis willcausea, corre. sponding reduced [pressure in the chamberxS,

and the air pressure acting in thechamber 57 .130

I force the diaphragm and stem 51r tov the left, thus .the spring 55 to force the diaphragm 52 and theiflg,

Astamm to the right, and .thus tomose the valve 5o.

As a consequence of the closing ofthe vvalve50, Y the pressure inthe pipes 14. and 20will reduce suiilciently to allow the spring,35 to hold the-"pistons k27` outwardlyv and, thus, to allow fthe-piston 24 to hold the valve gate' in its closed position. As soon as the pump is properly primed,jhow ever, v.the pressure in .the inlet pipe 6 will `be reduced by suction to such a point as to allow the valve 50 to open, andv this will allowoil pressure eifective on the diaphragm 21 to increase sumciently, so as to cause the pistons 27 to 'befox'ced-l inwardly and, thus, to open the gate valve.

Also, if in any way the pump while' in operation erate to close the main valve. In such a case, the increase in pressure in the pipe 6 will permit the spring 55 to force the valve 50 closed and to hold it closed. This will decrease the pressure on the diaphragm 21 suiliciently to cause the main valve 8 to be closed until the pump is again properly operating.

I prefer also to provide in the system a valve 60, which may be operated in any desired manner so as to close the main valve 8. Opening valve 60 will by-pass the oriiice 15, by allowing the oil to short-circuit the orilce 19 by circulating through the pipe 61. This will reduce the oil pressure on the diaphragm 21 and, thus, will maintain the main valve in its closed position, or close it if open, Without reference to the operation of either pump.

It will thus be seen that I have provided means for automatically controlling the closing of the main valve, according to the operation of the main pump, so that the valve is opened or closed as may be desired for the best operation of the system, and means are provided allowing for va-` rious adjustments, so that the reciprocal operation of the valve and the pump may be provided for so as to produce any particular results that may be desired. At the same time, injury or undesirable operation of the system is prevented in case of any accident or any inadvertent or careless operation thereof.

Although I have illustrated and described the oil circulating system as depending upon a pump connected directly to the shaft of the main pump, yet it will be understood that the operation of the oil pump mightbe arranged for otherwise. In case of an electrically driven main pump for instance, similar results might be obtained by driving the oil pump by a motor,'the current of which would depend upon the iiow of the current to the main motor, so that, when the main motor was stopped, the oil pump would stop automatically, as is the case with the systemde\` scribed.

Also any liquid could be used in the circulating system, such as water. For instance, the circulating pump 10 could be arranged'to pump water from the sump or source of supply of the main pumping system and discharge it back into the same source. In such a case, no means would be required to cool the circulating liquid.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a pumping system, a main pump having an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe, a valve in the outlet pipe, a valve control pump operated by the main pump, a hydraulic motor mechanically connected with said valve, and also in iluid ccnnection with said outlet pipe, a hydraulic motor in iluid connection with said control pump, said latter motor being arranged to control the flow of duid from said outlet pipe to said flrst-men tioned motor.

2. In a pumping system as claimed in claim l,

said control pump having an inlet pipe, a valve in said pipe, and a fluid motor mechanically connected with the latter valve and in fluid connection with the inlet pipe of the main pump.

3. In a pumping system, a main pump having an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe, a valve in said outlet pipe, and hydraulic means for operating said valve, said means comprising a control fluid pressure pump operated by the main pump and having an inlet pipe, a valve in the latter inlet pipe, and a iluid motor for operating the inlet pipe valve, said motor comprising a diaphragm chamber, and a diaphragm in said chamber operatively connected with said inlet pipe valve, said chamber being in communication with the inlet pipe of said main pump.

4. In a pumping system having a conduit, means for forcing a iiuid through said conduit, meansv for closing the conduit, and means for operating said closing means, said latter means comprising a pump operated by said iluid forcing means, a hydraulic motor mechanically associated with the closing means, means for passing pressure iluid from said conduit to said motor, and means associated with said pump for con trolling the flow of said iiuid to said motor so as to operate the closing means, the operation of said last mentioned means being responsive to the operation of said fluid forcing means.

5. In a pumping system, a main pump having an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe, a valve in the outlet pipe, a valve control pump operatively associated with the valve and arranged to operate substantially synchronously with the main pump, a circulating system operated by said control pump for controlling said valve, said circulating system having a valve adjacent the inlet of said control pump, and a iiuid motor for opening and closing said latter valve, the motor being responsiveto variations in fluid pressure and being operatively connected to the inlet of the main pump. l

6. In a pumping system, a main pump having an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe, a valve in the outlet pipe, and a valve control pump operatively associated with thevalve and arranged to operate with the main pump and being responsive to the fluid pressure in the inlet of the main pump.

7. In a pumping system, a pump having an inlet and an outlet, a supply pipe connected to the inlet and a delivery pipe connected to the outlet, a valve in the latter pipe, means operable by the fluid pressure in the outlet pipe beyond the valve for opening the valve, and means controlled by the pump for operatively connecting said last mentioned means with the outlet pipe.

8. In a pumping system as claimed in claim 7, said pump controlled means being responsive to the fluid pressure in the inlet pipe for closing the valve.

GRANT D. BRADSI-IAW. 

